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Donna Huanca

Chicago, USA. 1980
Mina de Aura, Installation view

CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.

Mina de Aura, Installation view

CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.

Mina de Aura, Installation view

CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.

Mina de Aura, Installation view

CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.

Mina de Aura, Installation view

CAAC Sevilla, Spain.
November 13, 2025 – April 5, 2026.
Image by Pepe Morón.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

Explorations: Donna Huanca and The Temple of Dendur

The Metropolitan Museum of New York, NY, USA, 2025.
Photo by Don Stahl.

SKIN PAINTEENS, installation view.

Nitsch Foundation, Vienna, Austria. 2024.

SKIN PAINTEENS, installation view.

Nitsch Foundation, Vienna, Austria. 2024.

SKIN PAINTEENS, installation view.

Nitsch Foundation, Vienna, Austria. 2024.

SKIN PAINTEENS, installation view.

Nitsch Foundation, Vienna, Austria. 2024.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Dasha Trofimova.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Ansis Starks.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Ansis Starks.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Ansis Starks.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Ansis Starks.

UTOPIC CELLS, installation view.

Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. 2024. Image by Ansis Starks.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

SCAR TISSUE (BLURRED EARTH), installation view.

Faurschou, New York, USA. 2023.
Courtesy Faurschou and Peres Projects.
Photo credit: Elsa Kostic.

BLISS POOL, installation view.

Space K, Seoul, South Korea, 2023.
Courtesy of Space K Seoul.
Photo by JunHo Lee.

BLISS POOL, installation view.

Space K, Seoul, South Korea, 2023.
Courtesy of Space K Seoul.
Photo by JunHo Lee.

BLISS POOL, installation view.

Space K, Seoul, South Korea, 2023.
Courtesy of Space K Seoul.
Photo by JunHo Lee.

BLISS POOL, installation view.

Space K, Seoul, South Korea, 2023.
Courtesy of Space K Seoul.
Photo by Onart Studio.

BLISS POOL, installation view.

Space K, Seoul, South Korea, 2023.
Courtesy of Space K Seoul.
Photo by Onart Studio.

OJOS OBSIDIANOS, installation view.

MAZ Museo de Arte de Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, 2023.

OJOS OBSIDIANOS, installation view.

MAZ Museo de Arte de Zapopan, Jalisco, MExico, 2023.

OJOS OBSIDIANOS, installation view.

MAZ Museo de Arte de Zapopan, Jalisco, MExico, 2023.

OJOS OBSIDIANOS, installation view.

MAZ Museo de Arte de Zapopan, Jalisco, MExico, 2023.

Donna Huanca: MAGMA SLIT, installation view.

The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 2022-2023.

Donna Huanca: MAGMA SLIT, installation view.

The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 2022-2023.

Donna Huanca: MAGMA SLIT, installation view.

The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 2022-2023.

Donna Huanca: MAGMA SLIT, installation view.

The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 2022-2023.

Donna Huanca: MAGMA SLIT, installation view.

The Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 2022-2023.

ARS22: Living Encounters, installation view.

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, Finland, 2022.

ARS22: Living Encounters

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, Finland, 2022.

ARS22: Living Encounters

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, Finland, 2022.

ARS22: Living Encounters

Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki, Finland, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK. On view until May 22, 2022.

Donna Huanca: CUEVA DE COPAL

ARNOLFINI Arts, Bristol, UK, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Donna Huanca, LÁGRIMAS SECAS, (installation view)

Travesía Cuatro CDMX, 2022.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Espejo Quemada

Ballroom Marfa, Texas, United States, 2021.

Obsidian Ladder

Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, United States, 2019.

Obsidian Ladder

Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, United States, 2019.

Obsidian Ladder

Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, United States, 2019.

Obsidian Ladder

Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, United States, 2019.

Lengua Llorona

Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curated by Aukje Lepoutre Ravn, 2019

Lengua Llorona

Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curated by Aukje Lepoutre Ravn, 2019.

Lengua Llorona

Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curated by Aukje Lepoutre Ravn, 2019.

Lengua Llorona

Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curated by Aukje Lepoutre Ravn, 2019.

Lengua Llorona

Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark. Curated by Aukje Lepoutre Ravn, 2019.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Piedra Quemada

Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Cell Echo

Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, 2018.

Lengua de Bartolina Sisa

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Lengua de Bartolina Sisa

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Lengua de Bartolina Sisa

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Lengua de Bartolina Sisa

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Lengua de Bartolina Sisa

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Scar Cymbals

Travesía Cuatro, Madrid, Spain, 2017.

Scar Cymbals

Zabludowicz Collection, London, United Kingdom. Curated by Maitreyi Maheshwari, 2016.

Scar Cymbals

Zabludowicz Collection, London, United Kingdom. Curated by Maitreyi Maheshwari, 2016

Poly Styrene's Braces

Art in General, New York in collaboration with kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. Curated by Anne Barlow, 2015.

Poly Styrene's Braces

Art in General, New York in collaboration with kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. Curated by Anne Barlow, 2015.

Poly Styrene's Braces

Art in General, New York in collaboration with kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga, Latvia. Curated by Anne Barlow, 2015.

Sade Room [Formerly Reclusive]

MoMA PS1, New York, United States, 2014.

Sade Room [Formerly Reclusive]

MoMA PS1, New York, United States, 2014.

Sade Room [Formerly Reclusive]

MoMA PS1, New York, United States, 2014.

Sade Room [Formerly Reclusive]

MoMA PS1, New York, United States, 2014.

Donna Huanca (b. 1980 in Chicago, US) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the human body and the natural world, through mark making, raw materials, immersive environments, and singular topographies. Encompassing painting, sculpture and live performance, as well as sound and scent works, Huanca’s installations are specially created for and intricately woven into the specific architectural spaces in which they are presented.

Inspired by Indigenous systems of communication, where objects serve as multi-purpose signifiers, Huanca uses objects and materials as repositories that aggregate and convey knowledge, information, and memory. Deeply rooted in communal practice and ritual, her kaleidoscopic practice creates shared spaces for transcendence, meditation, and transformation.

The performers Huanca commissions to inhabit her installations expand her non-static vocabulary and their painted skin becomes a major element in the composition. Huanca is interested in the fluidity of earthly cycles such as birth, decay, and renewal, and her impermanent paintings on the performers’ bodies are photographed, collaged, and manipulated into future works, masking and unmasking the traces of the human body beneath them. Through overlapping temporalities and narratives, Huanca’s multilayered works embody an allegory of both the fragmentation and connectedness of our shared human experience.

In November she presented Explorations: Donna Huanca and the Temple of Dendur, a single performance comissiones by the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Huanca’s numerous solo exhibitions include Travesía Cuatro Madrid, Spain (2025); Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia (2024), Sean Kelly Gallery, New York (2023), Faurschou Foundation, Brooklyn, New York (2023), the Museo de Arte Zapopan, Mexico (2023), Space K, Seoul (2023), the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle (2022), Arnolfini, Bristol (2022), Ballroom Marfa, Texas  (2021), Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles (2019), Copenhagen Contemporary, Denmark (2019), and the Belvedere Museum, Vienna (2018).

Her work is part  numerous collections worldwide, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, YUZ Museum, Shanghai, Rubell Museum, Miami, and Belvedere Museum, Vienna, among others.She is included in numerous international collections: Collections Solomon R. Guggenheim Collection, New York, United States; Zabludowicz Collection, London, United Kingdom; B.LA Foundation, Vienna, Austria; Espacio 1414/Berezdivin Collection, Santurce, Puerto Rico; Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, United States; Rubell Family Collection, Miami, United States; Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing, China; Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China, among others.

Piedra Quemada

2018. Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig.

Piedra Quemada

2018. Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig.

Piedra Quemada, Belvedere
Piedra Quemada, Belvedere
Piedra Quemada

2018. Belvedere Museum, Vienna, Austria. Curated by Dr. Stella Rollig.

Cell Echo, Yuz Museum
Cell Echo exhibition

2018. Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China.

Cell Echo

2018. Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China.

Cell Echo, Yuz Museum
Cell Echo, Yuz Museum
Lengua de Bartolina Sisa, Travesía Cuatro
Lengua de Bartolina Sisa, Travesía Cuatro
Lengua de Bartolina Sisa, Travesía Cuatro